The Town FilesFrenchtown, Montana
Community in Missoula County · population 1,958 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $475,500
- Household income
- $94,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 33.1
Frenchtown is a community of 1,958 people in Missoula County, Montana. The median home is worth $475,500, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for families than 87% of Montana towns, easier by car than 83% of Montana towns, more upscale than 79% of Montana towns.
How Frenchtown ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Frenchtown is worth $475,500, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $94,500, which is more affordable than 38% of Montana towns. Median rent is $1,609 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Frenchtown | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $475,500 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $1,609 | $893 |
| Median household income | $94,500 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Frenchtown
| People | Frenchtown | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 37.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 14.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 86.6% |
Weather in Frenchtown
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 19.1°F. About 14.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.6 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Frenchtown since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 8, 2022.
Severe weather in Missoula County since 1996
Missoula County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| August 23, 2024 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4813: Straight-Line Winds |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| October 31, 2018 | Flood | DR-4405: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Missoula County
Missoula County had 65,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,583 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Frenchtown itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Frenchtown
4 public schools with 1,385 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frenchtown High School | 9-12 | 453 | 14.6 |
| Frenchtown Elementary School | PK-3 | 439 | 13.3 |
| Frenchtown 6-8 | 6-8 | 319 | 15.2 |
| Frenchtown Intermediate School | 4-5 | 174 | 13.4 |
Towns near Frenchtown
- Wye, MT7.5 mi · 714 people · home $569,100
- Arlee, MT12.3 mi · 720 people · home $261,400
- Orchard Homes, MT14.4 mi · 5,377 people · home $553,700
- Missoula, MT14.8 mi · 73,489 people · home $473,100
- East Missoula, MT17.4 mi · 2,465 people · home $358,500
- Lolo, MT18.9 mi · 4,399 people · home $431,800
- Bonner-West Riverside, MT19.8 mi · 1,690 people · home $210,900
- St. Ignatius, MT21.3 mi · 768 people · home $250,000
Frenchtown questions
Is Frenchtown, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Frenchtown scores better for retirees than 61% of Montana towns and quieter than 65%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.1).
How much does a house cost in Frenchtown?
The median owner-occupied home in Frenchtown is valued at $475,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,500, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,609 a month.
What is the weather like in Frenchtown?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 19.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.4 inches of precipitation a year and 45.6 inches of snow.
Does Frenchtown get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Frenchtown in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)